Under Construction
Early Farming
Agriculture is important in the early days of Plain Township. Early farms were self-sufficient. They cut down wood on their property to build buildings and make firewood. Farmers had to grow anything they needed to eat which included apples, pears, cherries, peaches, apricots, celery, corn, wheat, rye, etc. Some of these items were then made into whiskey, bread, jams, jellies, and pickled. They also raised livestock. A farmer needed a cow to product milk and butter. Pigs were a source of meat. Sheep were raised for either their wool or meat. Labor on the farm was provided by family members. Everything was done by hand or horse power. Journals were kept to record weather, crop production, livestock, and other happenings on the farm.
Then and Now
(Section 27 NWQ) Amazingly the Kryder/Barr property which originally contained almost 200 acres has been owned by these two families and their descendants since the early 1850s.
Jacob Kryder (1806-1863) and Sarah (Lind) Kryder (1808-1866) bought land from Abraham Lind in 1852. They had six daughters and one son: Catherine (1830-1899), Elizabeth (1832), Sarah (1834-1920), John (1837-1920), Mary (1840), Margaret (1842) and Emma (1847).
Catherine married Joseph Klinker and they set up housekeeping on the family farm. It may have been during this period that the house seen today was built. When Joseph died and his estate was settled, William B. and Anna Barr purchased the farm in 1913.
The Barrs were industrious. They continued farming, raising cattle, planting orchards, and starting a successful dairy business which was known as Barr Dairy. The Barrs felt that a market for raw milk for invalids and babies in Canton could be created. They learned that Holstein milk was favored for this so they built a Holstein herd. They erected a tile barn and dairy plant.
William Barr died in 1942 and left the farm to his children. His son, Ransom, purchased his sisters’ shares and continued the business. Ransom Barr was active in the community. He was elected to the Plain Township Board of Education, joined the Canton Rotary and helped with 4-H groups. Barr School is named in his honor.
In 1962 Ransom and his son, Roy, decided to turn the farm into a golf course—Meadowlake. The Barrs continue to live on the property owned by them for over 100 years.Got Milk! Buying from a local dairy like Barr Dairy was common. Most of these dairies also produced other products like: cottage cheese, buttermilk, chocolate milk, butter, and sour cream. This was also a time when home delivery was popular. Most households, if they had a car, only had one. As dairy prices fluctuated, dairies were consolidated into major suppliers like Superior Dairy. Remnants of the Barr Dairy can still be seen today at the Meadowlake Golf Club. The clubhouse is the old dairy barn.
(Section 23 NWQ) All that remains of this large farm are the two farm houses which are side by side on 52nd St. NE. When the farm was flourishing, long lanes led back to the houses and barn. Today they sit close to the street surrounded by allotment houses.
Christian (1825-1895) and Frances (1832-1900) purchased the farm in 1881 from Jacob Grosenbaugher. They were a Mennonite couple who come to America in 1880. At least six of their children came with them: Catherine (1857), Peter Christian (1859-1937), Christian (1860-1934), John (1862-1935), and Mary (1865-1918). This Graber family eventually had a number of prosperous farms in eastern Plain Township.
While Christ and Frannie owned the farm, Ferdinand Brader made a pencil drawing of it in 1887. Brader was a wandering artist who made his large drawings for a place to stay and some food.
Just after the turn of the century, Peter Graber deeded land to Amos and Anna (Graber) Becher. Amos Becher’s family was also part of the Mennonite community. The Becher’s had three children Walter (1908), Paul (1910) and Catherine (1915). Their farm became Becher’s Dairy Farm and served the community for many years.
Eventually the land was sold and became the Norwood Hills Allotment. Interestingly, one of the very few farms left in Plain Township at this time is owned by a Graber. The Graber family made a great contribution to Plain Township’s agricultural industry and history.
(Section 9 NEQ) This beautiful old Victorian home has had the good fortune to have been cared for by three families for extended periods of time since it was built in 1869. Jacob H. Bair purchased 160 acres of land from his step-brother, George Grubb in 1856. Jacob and his first wife, Catherine Miller Bair, and their children: Abraham, Elizabeth, Solomon, Mary, Franklin, Mandilla, and Jefferson lived in the home at 1825 Applegrove St. It is uncertain when or if they moved to the Market N. property as the Victorian home was not built until 1869. Catherine Bair died in 1863 leaving children young enough to need care.
Jacob married Ann Margaret Pontius in 1866. Ann Margaret was the daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Pontius. Jacob and Ann Margaret planned and had the present home built. Jacob lived until 1880. It is likely that Ann Margaret continued to live in the home for a while.
In 1884 the estate was sold to Isaac and Barbara (Yoder) Markley. During the time Isaac and Barbara lived in the home, it was drawn by Ferdinand Brader an itinerant artist whose works are highly regarded in modern times. The Markleys had one son, Elmer, who inherited the property from them. Elmer, and his wife, Minnie, lived in the home for many years.
In 1953 Charles and June Homer purchased the property and spent the next 15 years restoring it. The Victorian Second Empire Home has ten large rooms with 12 foot ceilings, ornate woodwork, arched windows with limestone sills. There are also Victorian gas lamps which have been converted to electricity. This home is on the National Register of Historic Homes in Stark County.
The home is presently owned by the Homers’ granddaughter and her husband who continue to care for it and continue its careful historic tradition.
